Ergonomic tablet holder, stand, packaging

ABSTRACT

A high-density foam tablet holder provides protection for the tablet as part of a packaging solution and provides an ergonomic holding interface for the user when held by hand or in a plurality of stand positions. In larger configurations the holder can also provide a desktop or laptop surface for a laptop computer.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a utility application claiming priority of U.S. provisional application with the same title Ser. No. 61/665,244 filed on 27 Jun. 2012.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to ergonomic protective holders for tablets such as the Apple iPad or iPhone or the Samsung Galaxy tablet or phone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tablets such as the Apple's iPad or the Barnes and Noble Nook, or the Amazon Kimble or the recently announced MicroSoft Surface are generally thin and lightweight, and can be slippery and are prone to damage. There are a number of covers and tablet holders available that offer varying degrees of protection. With the proliferation of tablet computers in different environments there is a need to provide different types of protection for the devices in some of these environments.

For example, relatively expensive tablet computers are being by used by children at home and in schools. The current selection of covers offers very little protection in the case of an accidental or careless drop or spill. When dropped the screen can easily crack or break or the corners of the tablet can be dented causing a crack on the glass screen.

Another example would be the use of tablets and laptop computers that are used by people with disabilities and the elderly. The design described above is also helpful in these situations as it protects the tablet but allows the users to have a better grasp of the device if they have limited mobility or in the case of wheelchair users the device has a nonslip surfaces that prevents the device from falling from their laps.

The small bezels on these devices and available cases can also make it more difficult for not just children and the disabled to use the tablet without interfering with the display screen of the tablet—particularly those with touch screens.

A lightweight water resistant bacteria resistant easily cleanable easy manufacturable and customizable multifunctional packaging for tablet computers, effectively eliminating waste and allowing for a smaller carbon footprint is also needed.

There is a need for ergonomic holders for mobile devices which provide inexpensive shipping protection, which also provide ergonomic holding interfaces for such mobile devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like features and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a holder with a tablet in place;

FIG. 2 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 with an insert in place;

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment FIG. 2 with no tablet in place and the insert removed;

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment with functional cutout sections;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross sectional view along cut line A in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross sectional view along cut line B in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross sectional view along cut line C in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross sectional view along cut line D in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross sectional view along cut line E in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross sectional view along cut line F in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 illustrates a further embodiment of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 11 with the wrist rest removed;

FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the wrist rest of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 illustrates a riser;

FIG. 15 illustrates a back view of an embodiment which accepts a removable riser;

FIG. 16 illustrates a side view of an embodiment with a wrist rest and the wrist rest used as a riser;

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment with a wrist rest and a wrist rest used as a riser with a taller riser;

FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment where the insert is used as a stand;

FIG. 19 illustrates a side view construction of an embodiment;

FIG. 20 illustrates a side view of an alternative construction;

FIG. 21 illustrates a side view of an alternative construction;

FIG. 22 illustrates a side view of construction of an embodiment of the connector mechanism for the wrist rest and/or riser;

FIG. 23 illustrates a tablet holder configuration;

FIG. 24 illustrates a laptop computer desk configuration;

FIG. 25 illustrates a laptop computer desk configuration;

FIG. 26 illustrates a laptop computer desk configuration;

FIG. 27 illustrates an alternative embodiment with extended tabs;

FIG. 28 illustrates a cross sectional view along cut line G of FIG. 27 with no tablet in place;

FIG. 29 illustrates a cross sectional view along cut line G of FIG. 27 with a tablet in place;

FIG. 30 illustrates a cross sectional view along cut line G of FIG. 27 with a tablet in place and an insert in place;

FIG. 31 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a riser;

FIG. 32 illustrates the riser embodiment of FIG. 31 is a landscape stand configuration;

FIG. 33 illustrates a back view of the holder with the riser illustrated in FIG. 31;

FIG. 34 illustrates the riser embodiment of FIG. 31 is a portrait stand configuration;

FIG. 35 illustrates the riser embodiment of FIG. 31 is a portrait stand configuration;

FIG. 36 illustrates a further embodiment of the riser embodiment of FIG. 31 with a slot for receiving the cover insert;

FIG. 37 the embodiment of FIG. 36 with the cover insert stowed in the receiving slot;

FIG. 38 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a connection mechanism for risers and/or wrist rests;

FIG. 39 illustrates an embodiment of a holder employing the connection mechanism of FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 illustrates a side view of a holder of FIG. 39 with a riser of FIG. 38 in place;

FIG. 41 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the one illustrated in FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 illustrates an alternative embodiment with a slot in the rest for holding the holder in a vertical position;

FIG. 43 illustrates a further embodiment of the one illustrated in FIG. 42;

FIG. 44 illustrates an alternative embodiment with a slot in the rest for holding the holder in a vertical position and a second slot for holding the holder at an angle;

FIG. 45 illustrates a further embodiment of the one illustrated in FIG. 44; and

FIGS. 46-48 illustrate top and side views of a further embodiment of the holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated in the FIGUREs, like numerals being used to refer to like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

FIGS. 1 illustrates an embodiment of and improved ergonomic holder system 10 for a mobile tablet device 12 such as an iPad with a display 14 held in a foam frame. In the embodiment shown the frame is constructed from sheets of high-density foam with textured surface treatments. Suitable materials include but are not limited to EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. The weight percent vinyl acetate usually varies from 10 to 40%, with the remainder being ethylene. It is a polymer that approaches elastomeric materials in softness and flexibility, yet can be processed like other thermoplastics. The material has good clarity and gloss, barrier properties, low-temperature toughness, stress-crack resistance, hot-melt adhesive waterproof properties, and resistance to UV radiation. EVA has little or no odor and is competitive with rubber and vinyl products in many electrical applications.

EVA is one of the materials popularly known as expanded rubber or foam rubber. EVA foam is used as padding in equipment for various sports such as ski boots, hockey, boxing, mixed martial arts, wakeboard boots, waterski boots, fishing rods and fishing reel handles. It is typically used as a shock absorber in sport shoes, for example. It is used for the manufacture of floats for commercial fishing gear such as purse seine and gillnets. In addition, because of its buoyancy, EVA has made its way into nontraditional products such as floating eyewear. EVA slippers and sandals are currently very popular because of their properties like light weight, easy to mold, odorless, glossy finish, and cheaper compared to natural rubber. In fishing rods, it is used to construct handles on the rod-butt end. Closed cell water resistant materials are desirable as are materials that are bacteria resistant and that are easily cleaned and resistant to picking up lint and loose small particles of other types. Other advantages of the materials are that the tools necessary to obtain the desired configuration form multiple layers are sheets of the material are relatively inexpensive and easily modified.

Other materials of similar characteristics are also available and possible and in some instances may be preferable.

FIG. 2 illustrates the holder 10 with a removable insert 18. With the insert 18 in place the top surface of the holder 10 is essentially planar (ignoring any textured surface treatment (not shown).

FIG. 3 illustrates The holder 10 with the insert 18 removed in a manner so that it can be reinserted in cut out 22. This cut out section 22 is designed to receive a particular mobile display device (not shown) such as an iPad.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment holder 50 where the cutout section 54 includes additional functional processes. The processes are comprised of additional cut out areas and slots for user interface with the mobile device. For example functional process 56 and 58 make space for a USB power/data connector and cable (not shown) respectively. Process 60 is shaped to channel sound from the mobile device's speaker(s) (not shown). Processes 62 and 64 make space for a ⅛ inch headphone jack and cable (not shown) respectively. Processes 66 and 68 make space for access to other user input controls.

FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10 illustrate various cross-sectional views along cut lines identified in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate an embodiment of the side edge profile 72 of the cut out 54 along cut line A and cut line B respectively. In some embodiments, the cutout can be sized so that holding the mobile device depends on a force fit between the foam frame 52. In the illustrated embodiment the edge profile 72 is also slanted inward at the top edge 71. The objective is to more securely hold the mobile device (not shown) in the holder 50.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section of holder 52 along cut line C. In figure illustrates a chamber 65 for receiving a headphone cable (not shown). The cable enters and is removed from the chamber through slot 64.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section of holder 52 along cut line D. This cross section illustrates profiles for the process cutouts 62 and 66 for the 18/headphone jack (not shown) and finger access to use controls respectively.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-section of holder 52 along cut line E. This cross section illustrates profiles for the USB connector slot 56 and for the speaker sound channel 60. Note that the profile 61 of the sound channel process is tapered. The purpose of the profile shape is to maximize channeling of the sound from the speakers toward the user.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-section of holder 52 along cut line F. In figure illustrates a chamber 59 for receiving a USB cable (not shown). The cable enters and is removed from the chamber through slot 58.

FIG. 11 illustrates a further embodiment 50 of the holder illustrated in FIG. 4. This embodiment employs a raised section 70 for a wrist rest. In some embodiments the wrist wrest may be a permanent fixture. In other embodiments like the one shown the wrist rest 70 is removable. FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment where the wrist rest is held in place with force fit plugs 72 made of the same material as the wrist rest 70 and/or holder frame 52.

FIG. 12 illustrates the embodiment of the holder 50 of FIG. 11 with the wrist rest removed showing the connection orifices 74. FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the wrist rest 70. Where the force fit plugs 72 are either permanent fixtures or are removable 76.

FIG. 14 illustrates a multipositional riser 80 for mounting on the backside 51 of the holder 50. In some positions forcefit plugs 82 are employed in other positions forcefit plugs 84 are employed.

FIG. 15 illustrates the backside 51 of an embodiment of a holder with orifices 86, 88, 90 for receiving a riser(s). The orifices are configured in some embodiments so that the wrist rest from previous illustrations can be employed as a riser.

FIG. 16 illustrates a side view of the holder 50 with a wrist rest 70 and a riser 80 in the higher slot position.

FIG. 17 illustrates a side view of the holder 50 with a wrist rest 70 and the riser 80 in the higher slot position in the higher riser configuration and a second riser 81 in a lower slot position.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of the holder 50 in a stand configuration with the insert 18 used in conjunction with the riser 80 to prop up the holder in a stand configuration.

FIG. 19 illustrates one construction embodiment of the holder 50. This construction employs two sheets of foam 100 and 102 cut and then affixed to each other by like flat sides 110 and 112. In this embodiment the bottom 51 and top 52 surfaces have a pronounced texture.

FIG. 20 illustrates another construction embodiment of the holder 50. This construction employs a resilient sheet 104 between the two sheets of foam 100 and 102. The resilient sheet provides more stability of the holder. Another advantages of the resilient sheet is better sound channeling.

FIG. 21 illustrates the construction of FIG. 20 with different pronounced textures on the top surface 52 and the bottom surface 51.

FIG. 22 illustrates an embodiment of a connecting mechanism for a riser or wrist rest. In this embodiment a force fit plug 124 holds together the holder 50 and riser 80 (or wrist rest) via orifices 126 and 128 respectively.

FIG. 23 illustrates a configuration where the holder 50 is used to hold a mobile device 12 such as an iPad. FIG. 24 illustrates a configuration where the holder 50 is used as resting surface for a laptop computer 13.

FIG. 25 illustrates and embodiment of the holder 200 for two devices. Insert 202 can be removed to create a space 206 for one device such as an iPad. Insert 204 can be removed to make space 208 for a second device such as an iPhone. If the holder 200 is use to receive a laptop (not shown) then the insert 204 can be flipped and reinserted in space 208 to serve as a mouse pad.

FIG. 26 illustrates how the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 25 can be flipped so that the mouse pad surface is on the left side rather than the right side.

FIG. 27 illustrates an alternative embodiment 250 of the holder constructed of three layers of sheet foam. In this embodiment 250 the top layer 270 has extended tabs 252 and 254 which further ensure secure holding of the mobile device.

FIG. 28 illustrates a side view of the holder of FIG. 27 along cut line G. This figure illustrates a three sheet foam layer construction 270, 272 and 274. It also illustrates perforations 258 which allow airflow and heat transfer through the back of the holder 252.

FIG. 29 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 27 with a mobile device 12 in place.

FIG. 30 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 27 with a mobile device 12 in place and also with a cover insert 260 covering the mobile device 12 when not in use.

FIG. 31 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a holder 300 with a riser stand 304. In the embodiment shown, the riser bottom surface 306 is angled so that it rests flat on a flat surface. Additionally the side 312 of the sheet foam and side 314 of the riser 304 have an offset angle 310 (such as about 15 degrees).

FIG. 32 illustrates the purpose of the offset angle 310. The riser can also be used as a stand in a landscape configuration.

FIG. 33, FIG. 34 and FIG. 35 illustrate the riser 304 being used as a stand in a portrait configuration. FIG. 33 illustrates an embodiment where the riser 304 can be moved to interface with a more central set of orifices 322 as illustrated in FIG. 35. FIG. 34 illustrates an offset angle 330 (such as about 10 degrees) of the end 316 of the riser and of the shorter sides 311 of the sheet foam of the holder 300. FIG. 3

FIG. 36 illustrates and embodiment of the riser 304 with a storage slot 340 for holding the insert 11 as illustrated in FIG. 37.

FIG. 38 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a connection mechanism for risers and/or wrist rests. This embodiment employs magnets 412. Which are matched with respective magnets 422 in the holder illustrated in FIG. 39. The magnets are oriented so that the riser 410 can be placed on different locations on the holder. For example the magnets 422 at the bottom of the holder; or magnets 424 on the side of the holder or magnets 426 at the middle of the holder or magnets 428 at the top of the holder.

FIG. 38 illustrates another function of the riser which can be employed on this or other embodiments. Specifically the receiving holes 414 and 416. These holes can be shaped to receive such objects such as charging blocks (not shown) cables (not shown) earbuds (not shown) or other accessories of the device being held.

FIG. 40 illustrates a side view of a holder of FIG. 39 with a riser of FIG. 38 in place in the bottom position on the holder. The riser 410 is held in place by the attraction of its magnet 412 with the magnet 422 in the holder 420.

FIG. 41 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the one illustrated in FIG. 40. The riser 410 is held in place by the attraction of its magnet 412 with the magnet 422 in the holder 420. However in this embodiment the magnets 412 and 422 are recessed. In other embodiments the magnets may protrude or may either be recessed flush or protrude in various combinations. The most important feature is that the magnets are positioned to attract each other with sufficient force to hold the riser in place during use.

FIG. 42 illustrates an alternative embodiment 500 with a slot in the rest for holding the holder in a vertical position. The tablet holder 512 fits in a slot 516 of a rest 514 which holds the tablet and its holder 512 in a vertical position. The rest 514 may be a single piece as illustrated in FIG. 42 or multiple pieces 524 and 525 as illustrated as embodiment 520 in FIG. 43.

FIG. 44 and FIG. 45 illustrates an alternative embodiment 530 with a slot 517 in the rests 534 and 535 for holding the tablet holder 533 in a vertical position and a second slot 516 for holding the tablet holder 532 at an angle. In alternative embodiments the rest may be a single piece 534 as seen in FIG. 44 rather than two pieces 534 and 535 as illustrated in FIG. 45.

Although the figures and description herein describe an embodiment utilizing a round circuit board that separates into four sub-boards, the disclosure is not so limited and any shape of circuit board with any number of sub-boards may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.

While the disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as disclosed herein. The disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective casing for a tablet computer comprising: a foam frame comprised of three affixed layers of high-density foam a first bottom layer with dimensions exceeding the dimensions of the tablet computing device; a second middle layer about the thickness of the computing device with a central receiving orifice for accepting the dimensions of the computing device, and a third top layer with dimensions exceeding the dimensions of the tablet computing device and an orifice with dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the tablet computing in order to resist the removal of the tablet computer from the receiving orifice.
 2. The casing of claim 1 where at least one of the layers comprising of ethylene vinyl acetate.
 3. The casing of claim 1 where the at least one of the layers comprising of ethylene vinyl acetate is about 10 to 40 percent vinyl acetate.
 4. The casing of claim 1 where the at least one of the layers comprising of a material that has protective properties of ethylene vinyl acetate with about 10 to 40 percent vinyl acetate. 